Friday, December 25, 2009

Christmas Eve Sermon from The Bishop's Wife




There's a Christmas classic that doesn't get quite as much attention as some of the others, but it's message is just as heart warming and inspiring and that is the 1947 classic "The Bishop's WIfe" Cary Grant stars as an angel who has come to help out a bishop - David Niven who has lost his way. 

Ah if only we could all have Cary Grant come down and set us straight!


The movie ends with the bishop preaching the following sermon on Christmas Eve (of course the angel wrote it for him) and it's still good today.

Tonight I want to tell you the story of an empty stocking. Once upon a midnight clear, there was a child's cry, a blazing star hung over a stable, and wise men came with birthday gifts.

We haven't forgotten that night down the centuries. We celebrate it with stars on Christmas trees, with the sound of bells, and with gifts.

But especially with gifts. You give me a book, I give you a tie. Aunt Martha has always wanted an orange squeezer and Uncle Henry can do with a new pipe.


For we forget nobody, adult or child. All the stockings are filled, all that is, except one.

And we have even forgotten to hang it up. The stocking for the child born in a manger.


Its his birthday we're celebrating. Don't let us ever forget that.

Let us ask ourselves what He would wish for most. And then, let each put in his share, loving kindness, warm hearts, and a stretched out hand of tolerance.

All the shinning gifts that make peace on earth.


No comments:

Post a Comment